BOOKBITE O O short story by WW Jacobs the monkey’s paw part 2 50 goodreading ı APRIL 2007 The story so far: A visitor to the home of Mr and Mrs White and their son Herbert has given them a monkey’s paw, said to have a spell on it conferring three wishes on the owner. Mr White makes a wish for £200. The next day Herbert goes off to work as usual. Mr and Mrs White have just sat down to dinner when he asks her what is the matter... His wife made no reply. She was watching the mysterious move- ments of a man outside, who, peering in an undecided fashion at the house, appeared to be trying to make up his mind to enter. In mental con- nection with the two hundred pounds, she noticed that the stranger was well dressed and wore a silk hat of glossy newness. Three times he paused at the gate, and then walked on again. The fourth time he stood with his hand upon it, and then with sudden resolu- tion flung it open and walked up the path. Mrs White at the same moment placed her hands behind her, and hur- riedly unfastening the strings of her apron, put that useful article of apparel beneath the cushion of her chair. She brought the stranger, who seemed ill at ease, into the room. He gazed at her furtively, and listened in a preoccupied fashion as the old lady apologised for the appearance of the room, and her husband’s coat, a garment which he usually reserved for the garden. She then waited as patiently as her sex would permit, for him to broach his business, but he was at first strangely silent. ‘I – was asked to call,’ he said at last, and stooped and picked a piece of cotton from his trousers. ‘I come from Maw and Meggins.’ The old lady started. ‘Is anything the matter?’ she asked breathlessly. ‘Has anything happened to Herbert? What is it? What is it?’ Her husband interposed. ‘There, there, mother,’ he said hastily. ‘Sit down, and don’t jump to conclusions.You’ve not brought bad news, I’m sure, sir,’ and he eyed the other wistfully. ‘I’m sorry – ’ began the visitor. ‘Is he hurt?’ demanded the mother. The visitor bowed in assent. ‘Badly hurt,’ he said quietly, ‘but he is not in any pain.’ ‘Oh, thank God!’ said the old woman, clasping her hands. ‘Thank God for that! Thank –’ She broke off suddenly as the sin- ister meaning of the assurance dawned upon her and she saw the awful confirmation of her fears in the other’s averted face. She caught her breath, and turning to her slower-witted husband, laid her trembling old hand upon his. There was a long silence. ‘He was caught in the machinery,’ said the visitor at length, in a low voice. ‘Caught in the machinery,’ repeated Mr White, in a dazed fashion. ‘Yes.’ He sat staring blankly out at the window, and taking his wife’s hand